Watford City quarterback Trey Jacobson says he learned plenty backing up Kevin Sanford, a two-time all-state selection who led Watford City to Class AA state championships in 2006 and 2008.

It's showing in Jacobson's play in 2009.

Jacobson picked up where Sanford left off, and has guided the top-ranked Wolves to a 10-0 record and a spot in today's Class A semifinals.

"Kevin was a winner. We had a lot of success here with him at quarterback and I want to do whatever I can to keep that going," Jacobson said. "One of the things I learned from Kevin is you always play to win. When you step out on the field, you do it with the mindset that you're going to win. Just watching Kevin play and lead the team, and the way he handled things and himself - that was valuable stuff. He was one of the best we've had here."

Jacobson has impressive numbers to go along with his perfect mark as a starter. He has completed 52 of 90 passes for 1,004 yards and 17 touchdowns, and rushed for 344 markers and two scores. He came up big last Saturday in Watford City's 13-6 quarterfinal win over Williams County. He connected on 10 of 17 attempts for 147 yards and two TDs - both to Tyler Flatland.

Watford City coach Fred Fridley, whose team will take on second-ranked Velva in a semifinal game today at Velva, isn't surprised by Jacobson's success as a first-season starter. In fact, the veteran mentor said Jacobson is similar in many ways to Sanford.

"Watching Trey over the years, we knew he had the skills and the talent to be a good quarterback," Fridley said. "He throws the ball well and he can run with it, too. What really stand out are his leadership and his intelligence. He's a smart kid. He recognizes things and can call audibles if need be. He's made good decisions and he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Kevin was like that."

Jacobson knew that following Sanford wasn't going to be easy, but he was ready to take the next step.

"I looked forward to the opportunity for a long time. I felt I could get the job done," he said. "The coaches had faith in me and I knew that I would have good teammates around me. That makes it so much easier."

One of those teammates is junior running back Brady Lund, who carried 31 times for 195 yards against Williams County. He raised his season rushing total to 1,456. As a team, the Wolves have rushed for more than 2,600 yards.

"Without a good running game, our passing game would be in a lot of trouble," Jacobson said. "Teams have to respect the run and the pass when they play us. They can't concentrate on just one thing. Brady and our offensive line have done an awesome job."

Jacobson has an array of fine receivers to throw to. Nick Liebel leads the pack with 22 catches for 258 yards and five TDs. Tyler Flatland has 258 yards and five TDs on 10 receptions. The Wolves have three other pass-catchers with more than 100 receiving yards.

"You never know who our top receiver is going to be from one game to the next. They're all capable of having a big day," Jacobson said. "Most of the receivers we have went through junior high and junior varsity football with me, so there's good chemistry there."

Although Jacobson played sparingly on offense last season, he got in on some key plays. In a regular-season game against Hazen, Jacobson caught a 41-yard pass from Sanford in the waning seconds to set up the game-winning TD in a 35-34 win over the previously-unbeaten Bison. That contest decided the West Region championship.

In the Class AA state championship game against top-ranked Valley City, Jacobson threw a 39-yard scoring pass off a reverse to Justin Flatland in the third quarter, giving the Wolves a 25-14 lead. Watford City won the game 40-20.

"Trey didn't get many opportunities, but when he did he delivered," Fridley said. "He's athletic enough to make those kinds of plays."

Jacobson said he didn't see the scoring pass he threw in the Dakota Bowl until it was replayed on the big screen at the Grand Forks Alerus Center.

"I got knocked down right after I threw the pass. I didn't see Justin catch it, but I heard the crowd cheering, so I figured something good had to have happened," he said. "It was the biggest thrill of my football life, no question about it. But I'm hoping there are a lot more to come."

The Wolves, who have won 20 straight games, are one win away from another date at the Dakota Bowl, this time as a Class A team. Standing in their way is unbeaten Velva (10-0), which is looking for its first Dakota Bowl berth since 2006. The Aggies outlasted two-time defending state champion Harvey 18-12 last Saturday.

"Velva has a balanced offense. Their quarterback does a nice job throwing, but their first priority is to run the ball," Fridley said. "Our defense has to step up. Overall, our defense has done a terrific job."

Today's game pits two of the premier football programs in North Dakota. They have 17 state championships combined - nine for Watford City and eight for Velva. Fridley coached all nine state title teams, and has 296 career wins. Velva coach Larry Sandy has seven state titles and 189 wins to his credit.

"It's one of those classic matchups," Jacobson said. "Both programs know what it takes to win. The coaching will be there. You know both teams will be prepared, and will play hard the whole way. It's going to come down to who wants it more."

The other Class A semifinal has Langdon-Munich (9-1) hosting North Prairie (9-1). Langdon-Munich won the regular-season meeting 20-6 on Oct. 16.